Optical head device and optical information apparatus using the same

ABSTRACT

An optical head device includes a focusing optical system for focusing a laser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser light source on an optical information medium with an objective lens. A chromatic aberration correction element for correcting chromatic aberration occurring in the objective lens is provided between the semiconductor laser light source and the optical information medium. A light distribution correction element in which the transmittance increases with the distance from the center of the aperture surface of the objective lens is provided so as to correct a reduction of the intensity of the light incident on the aperture surface of the objective lens with the distance from the center of the aperture surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Division of application Ser. No. 10/264,297, filedOct. 2, 2002, which application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical head device for use inrecording information on an optical information medium and reproducinginformation recorded on the optical information medium, an opticalinformation apparatus (including recording/reproducing apparatuses andread-only apparatuses) using the same and a system in which they areused.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, in-depth research has been conducted to achieve higherdensity for optical disk systems by increasing the numerical aperture(NA) of an objective lens to decrease the diameter of a focus spot on anoptical disk. For example, the NA of an objective lens of a CD system is0.4, and the NA of an objective lens of a DVD system is 0.6, whereas theNA of an objective lens of a next generation disk system will be aslarge as 0.85. In this case, the in-plane distribution of the lightincident on the aperture of the objective lens is an issue.

This can be explained as follows. If the in-plane distribution of thelight incident on the aperture of the objective lens is constant, thediameter of a focus spot that is focused on an optical disk by theobjective lens is represented by λ/NA, where λ is a wavelength of alight source. In addition, the relationship of NA=r/f is satisfied,where r is the aperture radius of the objective lens, and f is the focaldistance of the objective lens.

The aperture radius r and the focal distance fare generally determinedby the physical size of the objective lens, but it is easily inferredthat, for example, the effective aperture radius when the light amountis 0 at the periphery of the aperture is smaller than the physicalaperture radius of the objective lens. Therefore, even if efforts aremade to achieve higher density of optical disk systems by increasing theNA of the objective lens, that is, even if efforts are made to decreasethe diameter of the focus spot on the optical disk, higher densitycannot be achieved without the in-plane distribution of the lightincident on the aperture of the objective lens being as uniform aspossible.

The non-uniform in-plane distribution of the light incident on theaperture of the objective lens conventionally has been a problem. Thisis caused by the fact that the light intensity of the laser beam emittedfrom a semiconductor laser light source is not uniform in the lightflux.

This problem will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG.16 is a view showing the relationship between a laser beam emitted froma semiconductor laser light source and the amount of light captured by acollimator lens, and FIG. 17 is a diagram showing light intensitydistribution with respect to an angle at which a laser beam emitted fromthe semiconductor laser light source diverges (hereinafter, referred toas “diverging angle”). As seen from FIG. 17, the light intensity of alaser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser light source 10decreases in the manner of a Gaussian function as the light flux radiusfrom the center of the collimator lens 9 increases. Therefore, in priorart, in order to make the intensity distribution in the collimated lightflux 8 entering the aperture radius of the objective lens as uniform aspossible, the radius rc and the focal distance fc of the collimator lens9 are adjusted (i.e., the relationship: the capturing NA of thecollimator lens 9=rc/fc is adjusted). Thus, only the laser beam withinthe angle θd of the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laserlight source 10 is captured by the aperture of the objective lens.

Naturally, the smaller the capturing NA of the collimator lens 9 is, theless the intensity distribution in the collimated light flux 8 is, butthe utilization efficiency of the laser beam emitted from thesemiconductor laser light source is reduced. Therefore, the capturing NAof the collimator lens 9 is determined in view of the balance betweenthe intensity distribution in the collimated light flux 8 and theutilization efficiency of the laser beam. In general, this value is setto about 0.2. As described above, in the next generation optical disksystems, the numerical aperture NA of the objective lens is as large as0.85 to achieve a higher density than that of DVD systems, and asemiconductor laser light source in a wavelength of 405 nm is used.

On the other hand, for glass material for lens production, as thewavelength of a light source becomes shorter, a change in refractiveindex with respect to a change in wavelength becomes larger. In general,a change in refractive index of the glass material used for a lens whena wavelength of a light source is changed 1 nm in the vicinity of 405 nmis about three to four times larger than that at a wavelength in thevicinity of 650 nm for DVD reproduction.

When the temperature of a semiconductor laser light source having awavelength of 405 nm is changed, the emission wavelength is varied, sothat the refractive index of an objective lens is changed. Thus, therefractive index of the objective lens is displaced from the refractiveindex at the time of design, so that the shift amount of the focus spotfrom the surface of the optical disk by the objective lens is aboutthree to four times larger than that for DVD (chromatic aberration ofthe objective lens). Furthermore, the lens refracts beams more stronglyin a portion closer to the perimeter, so that the beams that passthrough the portion closer to the perimeter of the objective lens areaffected more by the change in the refractive index. Therefore, a largerfocus shift due to the chromatic aberration of the objective lens occursfor the beams that pass through the portion closer to the perimeter ofthe objective lens, and substantially no focus shift occurs for paraxialbeams.

On the other hand, when the NA of the objective lens is increased forhigher density, the depth of focus is reduced in inverse proportion tothe square of the NA. Therefore, the depth of focus of a system havingan NA of 0.85 is only ½ of the focus depth of a system having an NA of0.6.

Therefore, the focus shift due to chromatic aberration in a nextgeneration disk system (NA of 0.85, a wavelength of a light source of405 nm) is eight times more demanding than that of a DVD system.Therefore, in the next generation optical disk system, it is necessaryto pay attention to the shift of the focus position due to a variationof the wavelength of the light source. When it takes 10 msec or more forthe focus position to shift, the focus shift is detected by a focuserror detection method, and the objective lens is moved accordingly soas to cancel this focus shift. Therefore, the shift of the focusposition due to variations in the wavelength of the light source is nota problem. However, when it takes 10 msec or less for the focus positionto shift, for example, the focus is displaced at the time of switchingof recording/reproduction of the semiconductor laser light source, whichresults in poor recording/reproduction and causes a large problem.

As shown in FIG. 18, in order to reduce the chromatic aberration, theobjective lens 1 includes three lenses 1 c, 1 f and 1 e that form twogroups. The lens 1 c is a convex lens and the lens 1 f is a concavelens, so that when the emission wavelength of the semiconductor laserlight source is shorter than a central wavelength of 405 nm, therefractive index of the glass material constituting the convex lens isslightly increased. Therefore, the convex lenses 2 b, 1 c and 1 erefract beams strongly, so that a focus spot 4 that is focused on asignal surface of an optical disk 3 is shifted to the side of the lens 1e. On the other hand, when the emission wavelength of the semiconductorlaser light source is longer than a central wavelength of 405 nm, therefractive index of the glass material constituting the convex lens isdecreased. Therefore, the refraction of beams by the convex lenses 2 b,1 c and 1 e becomes weak, so that the focus spot 4 that is focused on asignal surface of the optical disk 3 is shifted to the side opposite tothe lens 1 e.

On the other hand, concave lenses 2 a and if act on the beams in theopposite manner to the convex lenses 2 b, 1 c and 1 e. Therefore, whenthe emission wavelength of the semiconductor laser light source isvaried, a change of the beams by the convex lenses 2 b, 1 c and 1 e iscancelled by the change by the concave lenses 2 a and if, so that theshift of the focus spot 4 can be suppressed. The shift amount of thefocus spot 4 due to variations of the emission wavelength of thissemiconductor laser light source is larger as the curvature of thespherical surface of the lens is larger. Therefore, the shift of thefocus spot 4 by the convex lenses 2 b, 1 c and 1 e is mostly cancelledby the concave lens if that has a large curvature. Thus, when theobjective lens 1 is constituted by three lenses 1 c, if and 1 e formingtwo groups in this manner, even if the emission wavelength of thesemiconductor laser light source is changed 1 nm from 405 nm, the shiftamount of the focus spot 4 from the signal surface of the optical disk 3can be restricted to be about 0.001 μm. However, in the case of thislens arrangement, two more lenses are required than when a single lensis used as the objective lens 1 for CD systems and DVD systems, so thatan adjusting process becomes complicated. Furthermore, when theobjective lens 1 is constituted by a single lens as shown in FIG. 17,simplification of an assembly process and a reduction of the number oflenses reduce costs. However, the shift amount of the focus spot 4 dueto the chromatic aberration is as much as 0.5 μm. Therefore, it isnecessary to add some element to reduce the chromatic aberration in thiscase.

In the optical head device shown in FIG. 20, an objective lens 1constituted by two lenses is used to reduce costs. In this arrangement,not only are the costs reduced, but also the chromatic aberration can bereduced more than in the case of the objective lens 1 constituted by asingle lens. Nevertheless, the shift amount of the focus spot 4 due tothe chromatic aberration is about 0.35 μm, and it is necessary to addsome element to reduce the chromatic aberration in this case as well.

When the objective lens 1 as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 is used, achromatic aberration correction element 7 constituted by a diffractiongrating is inserted in order to reduce the chromatic aberration thatoccurs at the time of a variation of the emission wavelength of asemiconductor laser light source. In this case, compared to theobjective lens 1 having three lenses in two groups shown in FIG. 18, oneor two lenses are eliminated and the chromatic aberration correctionelement 7 is added. However, since this chromatic aberration correctionelement 7 can be formed in a simple manner by utilizing one surface ofthe convex lens 2 b constituting a beam expander 2 when the convex lens2 b is formed with resin, the costs can be reduced significantly,compared to the case where the objective lens 1 having three lenses intwo groups shown in FIG. 18 is used.

This approach of reducing the chromatic aberration has been well-knownfor a long time (e.g., JP 2001-60336A, which is referred to as “firstconventional example”), but when the amount of the chromatic aberrationof the objective lens 1 increases, the grating pitch of the chromaticaberration correction element 7 decreases.

This chromatic aberration correction element 7 can reduce the chromaticaberration for the following reasons. As described above, for example,when the emission wavelength of the semiconductor leaser light source isshorter than a central wavelength of 405 nm, the refractive index of theglass material constituting the convex lens increases and the power ofthe convex lens increases. Therefore, beams are refracted strongly andthe focal distance becomes shorter. On the other hand, the relationshipbetween the wavelength λ and the angle of diffraction Oh at thediffraction grating constituting the chromatic aberration correctionelement 7 is θh=λ/p, where p is the grating pitch of the diffractiongrating, and therefore when the wavelength becomes shorter, the angle ofdiffraction becomes smaller. Therefore, the chromatic aberrationcorrection element 7 acts on beams in the opposite manner to the convexlens. Thus, it is possible to cancel the focus shift caused by theobjective lens 1 due to wavelength variation by inserting such achromatic aberration correction element 7. In this case, since thedependence of the diffraction angle on the wavelength is utilized, thelarger the amount of chromatic aberration to be corrected is, the largerthe angle of diffraction θh with respect to the wavelength variation hasto be. Therefore, when the chromatic aberration of the objective lens 1becomes larger, the grating pitch of the chromatic aberration correctionelement 7 becomes narrower, and the grating pitch of the chromaticaberration correction element 7 becomes rougher in a portion closer tothe paraxial at the inner circumference.

As described above, the shift amount of the focus spot 4 due to thechromatic aberration in the case where the objective lens 1 having twolenses is about 0.35 μm, and the grating pitch of the collimator lens 9to cancel this chromatic aberration is about 6 μm at the outermostportion of the effective diameter, and about 150 μm at the centralportion. Thus, when the grating pitch is changed significantly, thediffraction efficiency in each radius position of the chromaticaberration correction element 7 is changed as shown by the solid line inFIG. 2A. Therefore, beams in the vicinity of the center of the objectivelens 1 are achromatized by the diffraction grating having a pitch of 150μm, and therefore the diffraction efficiency in this portion is 99%. Onthe other hand, beams in the outermost portion of the effective diameterof the objective lens 1 are achromatized by the diffraction gratinghaving a pitch of 6.5 μm, and therefore the diffraction efficiency inthis portion is about 92% (the diffraction efficiency with respect tothe pitch is a value as a result of taking an estimated reduction amountdue to processing error that can occur in practical use into account,based on the theoretical value).

Next, as a second conventional example, an arrangement disclosed inJP7-262594A will be described with reference to FIG. 21. In FIG. 21,reference numeral 41 denotes an optical disk, and reference numeral 42denotes a semiconductor laser light source. Reference numeral 43 denotesa hologram that splits diffracted light 431 in a direction oblique tothe optical axis of the incident beam in such a manner that thediffracted light does not enter other optical elements. The laser beamthat is emitted from the semiconductor laser light source 42 and entersthe hologram 43 is diffracted so as to be converted to light beamshaving a constant light intensity in the vicinity of the center andpasses through the hologram 43 (zero-order diffraction). The uppersurface of the grating constituting the surface of the hologram forms asmooth curve. Reference numeral 45 denotes an objective lens forfocusing the light beam having a constant light intensity in thevicinity of the center that has passed through the hologram 43 on theoptical disk 41 to form a focus spot. Since the light beams are made tohave a constant light intensity in the vicinity of the center by thediffraction of the hologram 43, the light beams are focused by theobjective lens 45 such that the diameter of the focus spot formed on theoptical disk 41 can be a small spot in which the 1/e² width issubstantially equal to 0.96λ/NA.

In the chromatic aberration correction element 7 for correcting thechromatic aberration occurring in the objective lens 1, the gratingpitch becomes smaller toward the perimeter, and the diffractionefficiency is reduced toward the perimeter. Therefore, the lightintensity in the vicinity of the perimeter of the objective lens 1 isreduced significantly, corresponding to a reduction in the manner of aGaussian function of the intensity of the semiconductor laser lightsource with respect to the radius distance of the light flux.

When the light intensity in the vicinity of the perimeter of theobjective lens is reduced significantly, the effective NA of theobjective lens is reduced. As a result, light cannot be focusedsufficiently on the optical disk, and the recording density on theoptical disk cannot be increased in proportion to the NA.

Furthermore, in the second conventional example, the angle ofdiffraction should be large so that the diffracted light 431 is split ina direction oblique to the optical axis of the incident beam in such amanner that the diffracted light does not enter other optical elements.As a result, the grating pitch of the hologram 43 is as small as 2 μm,or less, and this is difficult to produce. In addition, the lightintensity in the vicinity of the center is constant. Furthermore, thelight beams 421 emitted from the semiconductor laser light source 42constitute a so-called Gaussian distribution in which the intensity inthe center is strongest, and the light amount decreases gradually asapproaching the perimeter. Therefore, the diffraction efficiency of thehologram 43 should be highest in the center, that is, the zero-ordertransmittance should be low, and the diffraction efficiency shouldbecome lower gradually, that is, the zero-order transmittance shouldbecome higher, as approaching the perimeter. Thus, the diffractionefficiency of the hologram 43 is changed depending on the portion, sothat if there is a displacement with the center of the light intensityof the light beams 421, the light amount distribution of zero-ordertransmitted light is changed significantly, which makes it difficult toform a small focus spot as desired on the optical disk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, with the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide an optical head device having a large numericalaperture (NA) of an objective lens and a small diameter of a focus spoton an optical disk that can achieve high density of an optical disksystem and provide a high light utilization efficiency, and an opticalinformation apparatus using the same, and a system in which they areused.

A first configuration of an optical head device of the present inventionincludes a focusing optical system for focusing a laser beam emittedfrom a semiconductor laser light source on an optical information mediumwith an objective lens. A chromatic aberration correction element forcorrecting chromatic aberration occurring in the objective lens isprovided between the semiconductor laser light source and the opticalinformation medium, and a light distribution correction element in whicha transmittance increases with a distance from a center of the aperturesurface of the objective lens is provided so as to correct a reductionof the intensity of the light incident on the aperture surface of theobjective lens with a distance from the center of the aperture surface.

It is preferable in the first configuration of the optical head deviceof the present invention that the light distribution correction elementis a concentric diffraction grating having a phase step.

In this case, it is preferable that the chromatic aberration correctionelement and the light distribution correction element are formed onrespective surfaces of one lens.

A second configuration of an optical head device of the presentinvention includes a focusing optical system for focusing a laser beamemitted from a semiconductor laser light source on an opticalinformation medium with an objective lens. A light distributioncorrection element in which a transmittance in a vicinity of a center ofan aperture surface of the objective lens is reduced by a certain amountis provided between the semiconductor laser light source and the opticalinformation medium so as to correct a reduction of the intensity of thelight incident on the aperture surface of the objective lens with adistance from the center of the aperture surface.

It is preferable in the second configuration of the optical head deviceof the present invention that a portion of the light distributioncorrection element in which the transmittance is reduced is formed witha metal vapor deposited film.

It is preferable in the second configuration of the optical head deviceof the present invention that a portion of the light distributioncorrection element in which the transmittance is reduced is formed witha hologram.

It is preferable in the second configuration of the optical head deviceof the present invention that a portion of the light distributioncorrection element in which the transmittance is reduced is formed witha dielectric multilayer film.

It is preferable in the second configuration of the optical head deviceof the present invention that the transmittance in the portion of thelight distribution correction element in which the transmittance isreduced is in the range of 65% to 85%.

It is preferable in the second configuration of the optical head deviceof the present invention that a chromatic aberration correction elementfor correcting chromatic aberration occurring in the objective lensfurther is provided between the semiconductor laser light source and theoptical information medium, and the transmittance in the portion of thelight distribution correction element in which the transmittance isreduced is in the range of 60% to 75%.

It is preferable in the first or second configuration of the opticalhead device of the present invention that the optical head devicefurther includes a photo-detector for detecting light reflected at theoptical information medium; and optical path splitting means forsplitting the light reflected at the optical information medium from thedirection of the semiconductor laser light source to guide the light tothe photo-detector, and the light distribution correction element isdisposed between the semiconductor laser light source and the opticalpath splitting means.

A third configuration of an optical head device of the present inventionincludes a focusing optical system for focusing a laser beam emittedfrom a semiconductor laser light source on an optical information mediumwith an objective lens. A light distribution correction element in whicha reflectance in a vicinity of a center of an aperture surface of theobjective lens is reduced by a certain amount is provided between thesemiconductor laser light source and the optical information medium soas to correct a reduction of the intensity of the light incident on theaperture surface of the objective lens with a distance from the centerof the aperture surface.

It is preferable in the third configuration of the optical head deviceof the present invention that a portion of the light distributioncorrection element in which the reflectance is reduced is formed with adielectric multilayer film.

It is preferable in the third configuration of the optical head deviceof the present invention that the reflectance in the portion of thelight distribution correction element in which the reflectance isreduced is in the range of 65% to 85%.

It is preferable in the third configuration of the optical head deviceof the present invention that a chromatic aberration correction elementfor correcting chromatic aberration occurring in the objective lensfurther is provided between the semiconductor laser light source and theoptical information medium, and the reflectance in the portion of thelight distribution correction element in which the reflectance isreduced is in the range of 60% to 75%.

It is preferable in the third configuration of the optical head deviceof the present invention that the optical head device further includes aphoto-detector for detecting light reflected at the optical informationmedium; and optical path splitting means for splitting the lightreflected at the optical information medium from the direction of thesemiconductor laser light source to guide the light to thephoto-detector, and the light distribution correction element isdisposed between the optical path splitting means and the opticalinformation medium.

A fourth configuration of an optical head device of the presentinvention includes a focusing optical system for focusing a laser beamemitted from a semiconductor laser light source on an opticalinformation medium with an objective lens. A chromatic aberrationcorrection element constituted by a relief type blaze grating forcorrecting chromatic aberration occurring in the objective lens isprovided between the semiconductor laser light source and the opticalinformation medium. The height of the blaze grating in a portioncorresponding to the vicinity of the center of an aperture surface ofthe objective lens of the chromatic aberration correction element is setto a height that is different from a height in which a diffractionefficiency is largest so as to correct a reduction of the intensity ofthe light incident on the aperture surface of the objective lens with adistance from the center of the aperture surface.

It is preferable in the fourth configuration of the optical head deviceof the present invention that the chromatic aberration correctionelement and the objective lens are fixed integrally. In this case, it ispreferable that the chromatic aberration correction element is formedintegrally on a surface of the objective lens.

It is preferable in the first, second, third or fourth configuration ofthe optical head device of the present invention that a numericalaperture from the semiconductor laser light source to the focusingoptical system is set to be larger than when light distribution is notcorrected.

A fifth configuration of an optical head device of the present inventionincludes a focusing optical system for focusing a laser beam emittedfrom a semiconductor laser light source on an optical information mediumwith an objective lens. A light distribution correction element in whicha transmittance in a vicinity of a center of an aperture surface of theobjective lens is reduced by a certain amount is provided between thesemiconductor laser light source and the optical information medium soas to correct a reduction of the intensity of the light incident on theaperture surface of the objective lens with a distance from the centerof the aperture surface, and a power of the laser beam emitted from thesemiconductor laser light source is monitored by using light in thevicinity of the center of the aperture surface of the objective lensthat is lost by the light distribution correction element.

A sixth configuration of an optical head device of the present inventionincludes a focusing optical system for focusing a laser beam emittedfrom a semiconductor laser light source on an optical information mediumwith an objective lens. A light distribution correction element in whicha reflectance in a vicinity of a center of an aperture surface of theobjective lens is reduced by a certain amount is provided between thesemiconductor laser light source and the optical information medium soas to correct a reduction of the intensity of the light incident on theaperture surface of the objective lens with a distance from the centerof the aperture surface, and a power of the laser beam emitted from thesemiconductor laser light source is monitored by using light in thevicinity of the center of the aperture surface of the objective lensthat is lost by the light distribution correction element.

An optical information apparatus of the present invention includes theoptical head device of the present invention, an optical informationmedium driving portion for driving the optical information medium, and acontrol portion for receiving a signal obtained from the optical headdevice and controlling the optical information medium driving portionand the semiconductor light source and the objective lens included inthe optical head device, based on the signal.

A computer of the present invention includes the optical informationapparatus of the present invention, an input apparatus from whichinformation is input, a processing apparatus for performing processingbased on the information input from the input apparatus and informationread out by the optical information apparatus, and an output apparatusfor displaying or outputting the information input from the inputapparatus, the information read out by the optical information apparatusand results of the processing by the processing apparatus.

An optical disk player of the present invention includes the opticalinformation apparatus of the present invention, and a convertingapparatus from information to images for converting an informationsignal obtained from the optical information apparatus to images.

A car navigation system of the present invention includes the opticaldisk player of the present invention.

An optical disk recorder of the present invention includes the opticalinformation apparatus of the present invention, and a convertingapparatus from images to information for converting image information toinformation to be recorded onto the optical information medium by theoptical information apparatus.

An optical disk server of the present invention includes the opticalinformation apparatus of the present invention, and an input/outputterminal for exchanging information with an external device.

The present invention provides an optical head device that can increasethe density of an optical disk system by increasing the numericalaperture (NA) of the objective lens and reducing the diameter of a focusspot on the optical disk. In this case, the semiconductor laser powernecessary for a recording/reproduction optical head can be reduced atleast about 10% more than the conventional approach of reducing thecapturing NA. That is, the light utilization efficiency can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the configuration of an optical headdevice according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a graph showing the relationship between the distance fromthe center of the optical axis of a chromatic aberration correctionelement and the grating pitch and the diffraction efficiency.

FIG. 2B is a graph showing the relationship between the distance fromthe center of the optical axis of a light distribution correctionelement and the grating pitch and the diffraction efficiency accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an arrangement in the vicinity of anobjective lens of another example of the optical head device accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an arrangement in the vicinity of anobjective lens of an optical head device according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a light distribution correction elementand a chromatic aberration correction element according to the secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the configuration of another exampleof an optical head device according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7A is a schematic view showing the configuration of another exampleof a light distribution correction element according to the secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a schematic view showing the configuration of still anotherexample of a light distribution correction element according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a lens in which a chromaticaberration correction element that also serves as a light distributioncorrection element is formed according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the lens inwhich a chromatic aberration correction element that also serves as alight distribution correction element is formed according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing an arrangement in the vicinity of anobjective lens of an optical head device according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an arrangement of an opticalinformation apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing a computer according toa sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view showing an optical disk playeraccording to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view showing an optical disk recorderaccording to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view showing an optical disk serveraccording to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a view showing the relationship between a laser beam emittedfrom a semiconductor laser light source and the amount of light capturedby a collimator lens.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing light intensity distribution with respectto a diverging angle.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view showing an arrangement in the vicinity of anobjective lens of a conventional optical head device including anobjective lens having three lenses forming two groups.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view showing an arrangement in the vicinity of anobjective lens of a conventional optical head device including anobjective lens having a single lens.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view showing an arrangement in the vicinity of anobjective lens of a conventional optical head device including anobjective lens having two lenses.

FIG. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a principal part ofanother example of the conventional optical head device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specificallyby way of embodiments.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the configuration of an optical headdevice according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical head device of this embodiment includesa focusing optical system that focuses a laser beam emitted from asemiconductor laser light source 10 on an optical disk (opticalinformation medium) 3, using an objective lens 1. The objective lens 1includes a convex lens 1 a and a convex lens 1 b (two lens structure)that are disposed in this order from the side of the semiconductor laserlight source 10.

A beam expander 2 including a concave lens 2 a and a convex lens 2 bthat are disposed in this order from the side of the semiconductor laserlight source 10 is provided between the semiconductor laser light source10 and the objective lens 1. The beam expander 2 is inserted in thismanner for the following reason. If the numerical aperture (NA) of theobjective lens 1 is increased for higher density of the optical disksystem, the size of a focus spot 4 on the optical disk 3 is changed dueto spherical aberration by an error in the thickness of a protectivelayer of the optical disk 3. Therefore, the beam expander 2 is insertedto change a distance between the concave lens 2 a on the incident sideand the convex lens 2 b on the outgoing side so that the sphericalaberration is corrected. The beam expander 2 also is inserted to matchthe aperture radius of the objective lens 1 to the light flux diameterof the collimated light flux 8 from a collimator lens 9.

A chromatic aberration correction element 7 constituted by a diffractiongrating is formed on a surface of the convex lens 2 b constituting thebeam expander 2 on the side of the concave lens 2 a to correct chromaticaberration occurring in the objective lens 1.

Thus, in this embodiment, the chromatic aberration occurring in theobjective lens 1 is corrected by the chromatic aberration correctionelement 7 formed in the concave lens 2 a constituting the beam expander2 so that even if laser output is changed in the semiconductor laserlight source 10 for switching of recording/reproducing, the focus spot 4on the optical disk 3 is not moved. However, as described in the sectionof the prior art, in the chromatic aberration correction element 7, thepitch becomes smaller toward the radial direction of the light flux, andthe shortest pitch length is about 6 μm at the outermost portion of thelight flux, and the diffraction efficiency is reduced to about 90%. Onthe other hand, divergent light (laser beam) emitted from thesemiconductor laser light source 10 is converted to the collimated lightflux 8 by the collimator lens 9. In this case, as shown in FIG. 16, anangle θd at which a laser beam is captured by the collimator lens 9(hereinafter, referred to as a “capturing angle”) is smaller than adiverging angle θ of the laser beam so that a reduction of the lightintensity in the outermost portion of the effective diameter of the lenswith respect to the light intensity on the optical axis is as small aspossible. Therefore, the smaller the capturing angle θd of the laserbeam is, the stronger the intensity at the rim is, but the transmittanceefficiency of the laser beam in the collimator lens 9 becomes poor. Thismethod surely makes it possible to solve the problem of a reduction ofthe light amount distribution due to a reduction of diffractionefficiency occurring in the outer portion, using the chromaticaberration correction element 7. However, this method causes the problemthat the light amount loss is significantly large.

In this embodiment, in order to solve this problem, a light distributioncorrection element 6 constituted by a diffraction grating in which thetransmittance is increased as the distance from the center (opticalaxis) on the aperture surface of the objective lens 1 is formed in theconvex lens 2 b constituting the beam expander 2 on the side ofobjective lens 1. The chromatic aberration correction element 7 has ahigher diffraction efficiency in the central portion, and thediffraction efficiency decreases as approaching the peripheral portion,and thus the light amount distribution is effected. In other words, theintensity of the light incident on the aperture surface of the objectivelens 1 decreases with the distance from the center of the aperturesurface. In order to correct this decrease, it is necessary to form thelight distribution correction element 6 in which the transmittance islow in the central portion and increases as approaching the peripheralportion. For example, a phase type diffraction grating that has a groovedepth for high diffraction efficiency in the central portion and whosegroove depth becomes smaller as approaching the peripheral portion maybe formed as the light distribution correction element 6. Furthermore,also changing the ratio of the convex surface and the concave surface ofthe diffraction grating in one pitch can correct a reduction of theintensity of the light incident on the aperture surface of the objectivelens 1 with the distance from the center of the aperture surface. Inthis case, the ratio of the convex surface and the concave surface ismade larger or smaller than “1” in the peripheral portion, and thisratio is made closer to “1” toward the central portion. Thus, as thedistance to the central portion is shorter, the diffraction efficiencycan be higher and transmittance can be lower.

Furthermore, the allowability of the position error of the lightdistribution correction element 6 with respect to the optical axis canbe increased by forming the light distribution correction element 6 onlyin the central portion of the convex lens 2 b while the diffractionefficiency of the light distribution correction element 6 is constant.This provides a significant advantage in that the optical head devicecan be assembled easily.

It is useful that a concentric diffraction grating is used as thediffraction grating so that the light distribution correction element 6is provided with a lens effect. In this case, the diffracted light isdefocused when transmitted light is converged on the optical disk 3, sothat the light is not reflected with unwanted information. Therefore, itis not necessary to reduce the grating pitch to increase the diffractionangle as in the second conventional example, which facilitates theproduction of the light distribution correction element 6.

Furthermore, light distribution can be corrected also by using a lightdistribution correction element constituted by a filter in which a vapordeposited film made of a metal such as chromium (Cr) or silver (Ag) isformed only in the central portion. It is preferable that the size ofthe area in which the metal vapor deposited film is formed, that is, thediameter of the metal vapor deposited film, is ½ or more and ¾ or lessof the convex lens 2 b. In this case, it is not necessary to form agrating having a small pitch as in the second conventional example, sothat the light distribution correction element 6 can be produced easily.

It is preferable that the transmittance of the central portion (portionin which the metal vapor deposited film is formed and the transmittanceis reduced by a certain degree) of the light distribution correctionelement 6 is about 65% to 85%, when the chromatic aberration correctionelement 7 is not used together with the light distribution correctionelement 6. These values can provide an effect of increasing the lightutilization efficiency as a whole, in which the effect obtained fromincreasing the capturing NA by the collimator lens 9 can offset thelight amount loss caused by not using the light amount in the centralportion.

It is preferable that the transmittance of the central portion (portionin which the metal vapor deposited film is formed and the transmittanceis reduced by a certain degree) of the light distribution correctionelement 6 is about 60% to 75%, when the chromatic aberration correctionelement 7 is used together with the light distribution correctionelement 6. These values can provide an effect of correcting a reductionof the transmittance in the outer portion due to the chromaticaberration correction element by further about 10% from the case wherethe chromatic aberration correction element 7 is not used together withthe light distribution correction element 6.

By forming the light distribution correction element 6 in this manner,the light distribution correction element 6 and the chromatic aberrationcorrection element 7 can be formed integrally, which makes it possibleto align the centers of the chromatic aberration correction element 7and light distribution correction element 6 within a tolerance of 5 μm,and to perform profile correction more accurately in view ofcompensation of the light amount loss in the outer portion due to thechromatic aberration correction element 7. If the light distribution iscorrected by this light distribution correction element 6, theutilization efficiency of the laser beam emitted from the semiconductorlaser light source 10 can be improved significantly from a conventionalmethod of reducing the capturing NA of the collimator lens 9 to levelthe light amount distribution.

Furthermore, in the optical head device of this embodiment, apolarization beam splitter 13 is provided as optical path splittingmeans for splitting an optical path (outgoing optical path) from thesemiconductor laser light source 10 to the optical disk 3 from anoptical path (return optical path) at which light reflected at theoptical disk 3 travels to a photo-detector 12. As the optical splittingmeans other than the polarization beam splitter 13, a half mirror, adiffraction element or the like can be used. In this case, the lightdistribution correction element 6 can be inserted between thesemiconductor laser light source 10 and the optical path splittingmeans, so that the light distribution correction element 6 acts only inthe outgoing optical path and does not act in the return optical path,and thus the light utilization efficiency in the return optical path canbe increased and a signal to noise ratio (S/N) can be increased so thatstable signal reproduction can be achieved. In FIG. 1, reference numeral5 denotes light incident on the objective lens 1.

For example, simulations are performed to determine which approach ofthe approach of reducing the capturing NA of the collimator 9 to correctthe light distribution and the approach of correcting the lightdistribution with the light distribution correction element 6 canimprove the utilization efficiency of a laser beam emitted from thesemiconductor laser light source 10. It is known by therecording/reproduction experiments of the optical system that when thelight intensity in the outermost portion of the objective lens 1 issmaller than 60% of the light intensity in the central portion, thequality of recording/reproducing signals starts to deteriorate. For thisreason, the simulations are performed under the condition in which it isensured that the light intensity in the outermost portion of theobjective lens 1 is at least 60% of the light intensity in the centralportion.

First, when neither the chromatic aberration correction element 7 or thelight distribution correction element 6 were present, the utilizationefficiency of the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser lightsource 10 was 40% under the following conditions: the effective diameterof the objective lens 1 was 3.4 mm; the diverging angle of the laserbeam was 27 degrees; the capturing NA of the collimator lens 9 was 0.2;and the light intensity in the outermost portion of the objective lens 1was 60% of the light intensity in the central portion. Next, when onlythe chromatic aberration correction element 7 was inserted under theabove conditions, the utilization efficiency of the laser beam emittedfrom the semiconductor laser light source 10 was reduced to 37.8%, andthe light intensity in the outermost portion of the objective lens 1 wasreduced to 56% of the light intensity in the central portion. It isassumed that for the chromatic aberration correction element 7, thegrating pitch at the largest effective diameter position is 6.5 μm, thediffraction efficiency is 91% at the largest effective diameterposition, and the diffraction efficiency in the central portion is 98%.

In this manner, when only the chromatic aberration correction element 7was inserted, the light intensity in the outermost portion of theobjective lens 1 was smaller than 60% of the light intensity in thecentral portion. In order to correct it to be 60% or more, first, thecapturing NA of the collimator lens 9 was reduced from 0.2 to 0.188.However, in this case, the utilization efficiency of the laser beamemitted from the semiconductor laser light source 10 was reduced furtherto 33.7%.

Next, the light distribution correction element 6 of this embodiment wasinserted and the light intensity in the outermost portion of theobjective lens 1 was set to 60% of the light intensity in the centralportion. In this case, the utilization efficiency of the laser beamemitted from the semiconductor laser light source 10 was 36.2%.

The diffraction efficiency of the light distribution correction element6 is set as follows. The diffraction efficiency of the lightdistribution correction element 6 in a position opposing the centralportion of the chromatic aberration correction element 7 is 91.5%. Thediffraction efficiency of the light distribution correction element 6 ina position opposing a position in which the grating pitch of thechromatic aberration correction element 7 is 15 μm is 91.3%. Thediffraction efficiency of the light distribution correction element 6 ina position opposing a position in which the grating pitch of thechromatic aberration correction element 7 is 10 μm is 91.1%. Thediffraction efficiency of the light distribution correction element 6 ina position opposing a position in which the grating pitch of thechromatic aberration correction element 7 is 6.5 μm is 100%.

FIG. 2A shows the relationship between the distance from the center ofthe optical axis of a chromatic aberration correction element and thediffraction efficiency and the grating pitch. FIG. 2B shows therelationship between the distance from the center of the optical axis ofthe light distribution correction element of this embodiment and thediffraction efficiency and the grating pitch.

The utilization efficiency of the laser beam emitted from thesemiconductor laser light source 10 is 33.7% in the conventionalapproach (reducing the capturing NA of the collimator lens 9), whereasit is 36.2% in the approach of this embodiment, and if the lightdistribution correction element 6 is inserted, a 3% improvement (about a10% improvement from 33.7% for the conventional approach) in theutilization efficiency is expected. This value appears to be small, butwhen the approach of this embodiment is applied to an actualrecording/reproducing head device, the output light intensity of thesemiconductor laser light source 10 to be required is changedsignificantly.

This will be described by taking the case where 12 mW is required as theoutput light intensity from the objective lens 1 for recordinginformation on the optical disk as an example. The output of thesemiconductor laser light source 10 that is required when the chromaticaberration correction element 7 is not present is 12/0.4=30 mW.

In this case, when correcting the light distribution non-uniformityoccurring in the chromatic aberration correction element 7 by the lightdistribution correction element 6 of this embodiment, a semiconductorlaser light source 10 with only 12/0.36=33 mW can be used. That is tosay, the burden on the semiconductor laser light source 10 is increasedonly 10%.

However, when this light distribution non-uniformity is solved by theconventional approach of reducing the capturing NA of the collimatorlens 9, the necessary output of the semiconductor laser light source 10is 12/0.33=36 mW, and a 20% increase in the output is required. In otherwords, this embodiment provides remarkable advantages in that the lightutilization efficiency is increased, the light intensity in the outerportion can be kept at the same level as the light intensity in thevicinity of the optical axis, and focusing performance to the opticaldisk 3 can be obtained by setting the numerical aperture from thesemiconductor laser light source 10 to the focusing optical system.

When the output light intensity required for recording is 50 mW, if thearrangement of this embodiment is used, a semiconductor laser lightsource 10 having a laser output of 55 mW is sufficient. However, whenthe conventional approach of reducing the capturing NA is used, asemiconductor laser light source 10 having a laser output of 60 mW isrequired.

Thus, when recording information on the optical disk 3, in general, ahigh power semiconductor laser light source 10 is required, so that thisimprovement in transmittance efficiency is very significant.

In this embodiment, the beam expander 2 is provided, but a desiredeffect can be obtained without providing the beam expander 2, so that anarrangement in which the beam expander 2 is not provided can be used.

In this embodiment, the objective lens 1 is constituted by the convexlens 1 a and the convex lens 1 b (two lens structure), but the singlelens structure shown in FIG. 3 functions using the same principle.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an arrangement in the vicinity of anobjective lens of an optical head device according to a secondembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing thelight distribution correction element and the chromatic aberrationcorrection element.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in this embodiment, the light distributioncorrection element 6 and the chromatic aberration correction element 7are formed simultaneously on respective surfaces of a formation plate 11that is separated from the beam expander 2. The formation plate 11 isfixed integrally to the objective lens 1. Therefore, even if theobjective lens 1 moves in the traverse direction along the informationgroove on the optical disk 3, the center of the objective lens 1 is notdisplaced from the center of the chromatic aberration correction element7 or the center of light distribution correction element 6.Consequently, portions having a smaller pitch of the chromaticaberration correction element 7 than necessary do not have to be used,so that the production of the elements can be simplified. Furthermore,an increase of the grating pitch can improve the utilization efficiency.

The diffraction efficiency in the radius direction required for thelight distribution correction element 6 is substantially constant asshown in FIG. 2B, so that it is not necessary to change the groove depthof the diffraction grating. However, when it is necessary to change thediffraction efficiency in the radius direction significantly, the groovedepth of the diffraction grating may be changed. If a change in thegroove depth of the diffraction grating causes a problem in the phase oftransmitted light, the shape of the objective lens 1 or the shape of thelenses constituting the beam expander 2 can be changed in order tocorrect the phase.

Furthermore, the light distribution also can be corrected by changingthe design of an anti-reflection coating (AR coating) formed in order toprevent reflection on the surface of the objective lens 1. In order toincrease the NA of the objective lens 1, as shown in FIG. 1, it isnecessary to increase the curvature of the surface (e.g., convex surfaceof the lens 1 a on the left side of the drawing) of the objective lens 1on the side of the semiconductor laser light source 10. For this reason,the incident angle of the beams in the vicinity of the optical axis issignificantly different from that in the outermost portion. For example,when the NA of the objective lens 1 is 0.85, the incident angle of thebeams in the vicinity of the optical axis is different from that in theoutermost portion by about 40 degrees or more. The reflectance of the ARcoating is changed depending on the incident angle of the beams.Therefore, if the AR coating is designed such that the reflectance islowest and the transmittance is highest with respect to the incidentangle of the beams into the outermost portion, reflection occurs in theinner circumference portion in the vicinity of the optical axis and thetransmittance is reduced. Furthermore, when the NA from thesemiconductor laser light source 10 to the collimator lens 9 isincreased, the advantages of improving the light utilization efficiencyand improving focusing performance, that is, improving the lightrecording density can be obtained without increasing the number ofcomponents or processes. An attempt to improve the design of the ARcoating is disclosed in JP2001-6204A, but this publication does notdisclose “the arrangement by which the light utilization efficiency isimproved by further increasing the NA from the light source to thecollimator lens” as disclosed in this specification.

Furthermore, the light distribution correction element can be realizedby other methods than the above-described method. FIG. 6 shows aschematic configuration of an optical head device using a lightdistribution correction element other than the above example of thesecond embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, thisoptical head device includes a focusing optical system that focuses alaser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser light source 901 on anoptical disk 908, using an objective lens 907. A beam expander includinga concave lens 904 and a convex lens 905 that are disposed in this orderfrom the side of the semiconductor laser light source 901 is providedbetween the semiconductor laser light source 901 and the objective lens907.

A light distribution correction element 906 including a mirror formedwith a dielectric multilayer film (e.g., a laminate including aplurality of layers obtained by laminating SiO₂ and titanium oxidealternately can be used) is disposed between the beam expander and theobjective lens 907. The light distribution correction element (mirror)906 has different reflectances depending on the polarization direction.For example, the reflectance of a predetermined portion (innercircumferential portion near the optical axis) is K1 with respect to Ppolarization and K2 with respect to S polarization. The reflectance of aportion other than the predetermined portion (peripheral portion of thepredetermine portion) is K3 with respect to both P polarization and Spolarization. In this embodiment, K1 is set to 70%, and K2 and K3 areset to 100%.

In this optical head device, a polarization beam splitter 903 isprovided as optical path splitting means for splitting an optical path(outgoing optical path) from the semiconductor laser light source 901 tothe optical disk 908 from an optical path (return optical path) at whichlight reflected at the optical disk 908 travels to a photo-detector 910.In FIG. 6, reference numeral. 902 denotes a collimator lens forconverting divergent light (laser beam) emitted from the semiconductorlaser light source 901 to the collimated light flux, reference numeral909 denotes a focusing lens, and reference numeral 911 denotes a L/4wavelength plate (L is an odd number of 1 or more). Reference numeral912 denotes a photo-detector for receiving the light transmitted throughthe light distribution correction element 906 of the light on theoutgoing optical path.

Hereinafter, the operation of the optical head device configured asabove will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The linearly polarizedlight (the polarization direction is a direction corresponding to Ppolarization with respect to the light distribution correction element906) emitted from the semiconductor laser light source 901 is convertedto a collimated light flux by the collimator lens 902. The lighttransmitted through the collimator lens 902 is transmitted through thepolarization beam splitter 903, and then is converted to divergent lightby the concave lens 904. Then, the divergent light is converted to acollimated light flux by the convex lens 905 and reflected at the lightdistribution correction element 906, so that the direction to which thelight is traveling is bent at an angle of 90 degrees. The light whosetraveling direction is bent by the light distribution correction element906 is converted to circularly polarized light by the L/4 wavelengthplate 911, and then is focused on the optical disk 908 by the objectivelens 907.

Then, the light reflected at the optical disk 908 is transmitted throughthe objective lens 907 and then is converted to light in a directionorthogonal to the polarization direction of the laser beam emitted fromthe semiconductor laser light source 901 by the L/4 wavelength plate911. The light transmitted through the L/4 wavelength plate 911 isreflected at the light distribution correction element 906, transmittedthrough the convex lens 905 and the concave lens 904 sequentially inthis order, and then reflected at the polarization beam splitter 903.Thus, the light is focused onto the photo-detector 910 by the focusinglens 909. Then, the photo-detector 910 outputs a focus error signalindicating the focusing state of the light on the optical disk 908, andoutputs a tracking error signal indicating the irradiation position ofthe light. Herein, the focus error signal and the tracking error signalare detected by known techniques, e.g., an astigmatism method, apush-pull method, or the like. Focus control means (not shown) controlsthe position of the objective lens 907 to the optical axis directionthereof such that the light is constantly focused on the optical disk908 in the focusing state, based on the focus error signal. Trackingcontrol means (not shown) controls the position of the objective lens907 such that the light is focused on a desired track on the opticaldisk 908, based on the tracking error signal. Furthermore, informationrecorded on the optical disk 908 also can be obtained from thephoto-detector 910.

Since the light distribution correction element 906 has the reflectancecharacteristics as described above, the reflectance in the innercircumferential portion near the optical axis is reduced with respect tothe outgoing optical path. As a result, it is possible to relativelyraise the light intensity in the outermost portion of the objective lens907. In addition, with respect to the return optical path, thereflectance of the light distribution correction element 906 is uniformregardless of the position, so that the light distribution correctionelement 906 is a regular mirror.

As described above, it is possible to correct light distribution byusing a mirror formed with a dielectric multilayer film and having theabove-described reflectance characteristics. Moreover, it is notnecessary to reduce the grating pitch as in the second conventionalexample, which facilitates the production of the light distributioncorrection element. This light distribution correction element 906 is areflection type light distribution correction element, which isdifferent from the transmission type light distribution correctionelement as described above.

Since the light distribution correction element 906 is located near theobjective lens 907, if the center of the light intensity distribution isadjusted to match the center of the objective lens 907, a displacementbetween the center of the predetermined portion (inner circumferentialportion near the optical axis) and the center of the light intensitydistribution becomes small. As a result, it is possible to assemble anoptical head device without adjusting the position of the lightdistribution correction element 906. Furthermore, the light transmittedthrough the inner circumferential portion near the optical axis of lightdistribution correction element 906 of the light on the outgoing opticalpath is received by the photo-detector 912, so that the power of thelaser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser light source 901 can bemonitored. By using this configuration, it is possible to monitor thepower of the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser lightsource 901 using light that is not used for recording or reproduction.Therefore, it is possible to realize an optical head device having ahigh light utilization efficiency.

Furthermore, in this configuration, the light distribution correctionelement 906 is disposed between the polarization beam splitter 903 forsplitting the light and the optical disk 908, but since the lightdistribution correction element 906 has different reflectances dependingon the polarization direction, the light amount loss does not occur inthe return optical path.

It is preferable that the reflectance of the central portion of thelight distribution correction element 906 is about 65% to 85%, as in thefirst embodiment, when the light distribution correction element 906 isnot used together with the chromatic aberration correction element.These values can provide an effect of increasing the light utilizationefficiency as a whole, in which the effect obtained from increasing thecapturing NA by the collimator lens 902 can offset the light amount losscaused by not using the light amount in the central portion.

It is preferable that the reflectance of the central portion of thelight distribution correction element 906 is about 60% to 75%, as in thefirst embodiment, when the light distribution correction element 906 isused together with the chromatic aberration correction element. Thesevalues can provide an effect of correcting a reduction of thetransmittance in the outer portion due to the chromatic aberrationcorrection element by further about 10% from the case where thechromatic aberration correction element is not used together with thelight distribution correction element 906.

As a light distribution correction element other than the above, anoptical element in which a hologram is formed only in the centralportion of a glass plate so that the transmittance of that portion isreduced can be used. If the phase of the light transmitted through theportion where the hologram is formed is different from that of the lighttransmitted through a portion other than the portion where the hologramis formed so that the characteristics of the optical head device areimpaired, the phases can be adjusted to be matched with each other. Thephases can be adjusted, for example, by reducing the thickness of theportion other than the portion in which the hologram 913 is formed, asshown in FIG. 7A. Another method for adjusting the phases is to providea thin film 914 (e.g., a single SiO₂ layer can be used) on the backsurface of the portion in which the hologram 913 is formed, as shown inFIG. 7B. Other methods can be used for the phase adjustment.Alternatively, the transmittance of that portion can be reduced byforming a dielectric multilayer film only on the central portion of theglass plate.

In the above, the case where the light transmitted through the innercircumferential portion near the optical axis of the light distributioncorrection element 906 is received by the photo-detector 912 so that thepower of the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser lightsource 901 is monitored has been described. However, even if a lightdistribution correction element other than the light distributioncorrection element 906 is used, it is possible to monitor the power ofthe laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser light source 901.For example, in the case of an element for correcting light distributionby forming a hologram and reducing the transmittance in that portion (2b of FIG. 1 and FIG. 7), it is possible to monitor the power of thelaser beam emitted from semiconductor laser light source usingdiffracted light thereof. Furthermore, in the case of an element forcorrecting light distribution by forming a metal vapor deposited filmand reducing the transmittance in that portion, it is possible tomonitor the power of the laser beam emitted from semiconductor laserlight source using reflected light thereof. An optical element (e.g.,mirror) for changing the direction to which the light is traveling canbe used in order to receive the diffracted light or the reflected light.There is no problem, if an optical element used in an optical system forrecording or reproduction is used to change the light travelingdirection. This is advantageous in the design of the optical headdevice, because the position of the photo-detector for receiving thediffracted light or the reflected light can be set arbitrarily.

Third Embodiment

The chromatic aberration correction element can serve also as the lightdistribution correction element. This will be described with referenceto FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a convexlens constituting the beam expander. As shown in FIG. 8, a chromaticaberration correction element 7 b constituted by a relief type blazegrating (indented blaze hologram) is formed integrally on the leftsurface of the convex lens 2 b to correct chromatic aberration occurringin the objective lens. The height of the blaze grating in a portioncorresponding to the vicinity of the center of the aperture surface ofthe objective lens is lower than the height in which the diffractionefficiency is largest, and thus the diffraction efficiency in thevicinity of the center of the chromatic aberration correction element 7b is low. Therefore, the light distribution can be corrected withoutproviding a light distribution correction element separately, so thatthe diameter of an optical spot can be reduced and the light utilizationefficiency can be improved. In addition, the number of components alsocan be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 9, the height of the blaze grating in a portioncorresponding to the vicinity of the center of the aperture surface ofthe objective lens can be higher than the height in which thediffraction efficiency is largest so that the diffraction efficiency ofthe chromatic aberration correction element 7 c is reduced.

Fourth Embodiment

When the objective lens 1 is a combination lens, as shown in FIG. 10,the light distribution correction element can be disposed betweenindividual lenses (e.g., lenses 1 d and 1 e) constituting a combinationlens. Furthermore, the chromatic aberration correction element 7 thatalso serves as the light distribution correction element can be formedon the surface of a lens (e.g., lens 1 d in FIG. 10) so as to reduce thenumber of components.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an arrangement of an opticalinformation apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 11, an optical disk 3 is mounted on aturntable 82, and driven to be rotated by a motor 64 serving as anoptical information medium driving portion (when an optical card is usedinstead of the optical disk 3, the optical card is driven to betranslated). Reference numeral 55 denotes an optical head device of thefirst to fourth embodiments, and the optical head device 55 is moved bya driving device 51 of the optical head device up to the approximateposition of a track in which desired information is present on theoptical disk 3.

The optical head device 55 supplies focus error signals and trackingerror signals to an electrical circuit 53 serving as a control portion,corresponding to the positional relationship to the optical disk 3.Based on these signals, the electrical circuit 53 supplies a signal tomove slightly the objective lens relative to the optical head device 55.Then, based on this signal, the optical head device 55 performs focuscontrol and tracking control to the optical disk 3, and then reads out,writes (records) or erases information. Furthermore, the electricalcircuit 53 also controls the motor 64 and a semiconductor laser lightsource in the optical head device 55, based on the signal obtained fromthe optical head device 55.

In the optical information apparatus 67 of this embodiment, an opticalhead device of the first to fourth embodiment is used as the opticalhead 55, so that a small focus spot can be formed on the optical disk 3,and recording/reproduction can be performed with respect to the opticaldisk having a high recording density.

Sixth Embodiment

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing a computer according toa sixth embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 12, a computer 100 of this embodiment includes theoptical information apparatus 67 of the fifth embodiment, an inputapparatus 65 from which information is input, such as a keyboard, amouse or a touch panel, a processing apparatus 84 for processing basedon the information input from the input apparatus 65 and the informationread out by the optical information apparatus 67, such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU), and an output apparatus 81 for displaying oroutputting information such as results of processing of the processingapparatus 84, such as a cathode ray tube apparatus, a liquid crystalapparatus, or a printer.

Seventh Embodiment

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view showing an optical disk playeraccording to seventh embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 13, an optical disk player 121 of this embodimentincludes the optical information apparatus 67 of the fifth embodiment,and a converting apparatus (i.e., decoder 66) from information to imagesfor converting the information signal obtained from the opticalinformation apparatus 67 to images.

This embodiment can be utilized as a car navigation system. It is alsopossible to create a configuration in which a display apparatus 120 suchas a liquid crystal monitor is added.

Eighth Embodiment

FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view showing an optical disk recorderaccording to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 14, an optical disk recorder 110 of this embodimentincludes the optical information apparatus 67 of the fifth embodiment,and a converting apparatus (i.e., encoder 68) from images to informationfor converting image information to the information to be recorded onthe optical disk by the optical information apparatus 67.

It is also possible to create a configuration in which a convertingapparatus (i.e., decoder 66) from information to images for convertingthe information signal obtained from the optical information apparatus67 to images is added. This configuration makes it possible to reproducethe already recorded portion.

It is also possible to create a configuration in which an outputapparatus 81 for displaying information, such as a cathode ray tubeapparatus, a liquid crystal display, and a printer is added.

The computer, the optical disk player, or the optical disk recorderprovided with the optical information apparatus 67 of the fifthembodiment or using the above-described recording/reproducing method canrecord or reproduce information on an optical disk having a higherrecording density, so that more information can be stored and processed.

Ninth Embodiment

FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view showing an optical disk serveraccording to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 15, an optical disk server 130 of this embodimentincludes the optical information apparatus 67 of the fifth embodiment,and a wired or wireless input/output terminal 69 for capturinginformation to be recorded in the optical information apparatus 67 oroutputting information read out by the optical information apparatus 67.

This configuration makes it possible for the optical disk server 130 toexchange information with a network 135, that is, a plurality ofappliances such as computers, telephones, and television tuners, and canbe utilized as a common information server for these appliances. Sincerecording/reproduction can be performed stably on different types ofoptical disks, it can be used in a wide range of applications.

It is also possible to create a configuration in which an outputapparatus 81 for displaying information, such as a cathode ray tubeapparatus, a liquid crystal display, and a printer is added.

Furthermore, if a changer 131 for inserting to and removing a pluralityof optical disks from the optical information apparatus 67 is added,much information can be recorded and stored.

In the sixth to ninth embodiments, FIGS. 12 to 15 show the outputapparatus 81 or the liquid crystal monitor 120, but it is possible thatthere are commercialized forms in which only an output terminal isprovided and the apparatus 81 and the liquid crystal monitor 120 are notprovided, but are available separately. An input apparatus is not shownin FIG. 13 or 14, but it is possible that there are commercialized formsin which an input apparatus such as a keyboard, a touch panel, a mouse,and a remote control apparatus is provided. On the other hand, in thesixth and ninth embodiments, it is possible that the input apparatus isavailable separately, and only an input terminal is provided.

Furthermore, also when an optical card is used as the opticalinformation medium of the present invention, instead of the opticaldisk, the same advantages as when the optical disk is used can beobtained. In other words, the present invention can be applied to allthe optical information media on which recording or reproduction can beperformed by forming small focus spots.

The invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from thespirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments disclosedin this application are to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not limiting. The scope of the invention is indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are intended to be embraced therein.

1-27. (canceled)
 28. An optical head device comprising an optical systemfor focusing a laser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser lightsource on an optical information medium with an objective lens, whereina diffractive lens for correcting chromatic aberration occurring in theobjective lens is provided between the semiconductor laser light sourceand the optical information medium, the diffractive lens is constitutedby a Blazed diffraction element, and a height of the Blazed diffractionelement in a portion corresponding to a vicinity of a center of anaperture surface of the objective lens of the diffractive lens is set toa height that is different from a height in which a diffractionefficiency is largest so as to correct a reduction of the intensity ofthe light incident on the aperture surface of the objective lens with adistance from a center of the aperture surface.
 29. The optical headdevice according to claim 28, wherein the diffractive lens forcorrecting chromatic aberration and the objective lens are fixedintegrally.
 30. The optical head device according to claim 29, whereinthe diffractive lens for correcting chromatic aberration is formedintegrally on a surface of the objective lens.
 31. An opticalinformation apparatus comprising: the optical head device according toclaim 28; a motor for rotating the optical information medium; and anelectrical circuit for receiving a signal obtained from the optical headdevice and controlling and driving the motor, the objective lens and thesemiconductor laser light source, based on the signal.
 32. A computercomprising: the optical information apparatus according to claim 31; aninput apparatus or an input terminal from which information is input; aprocessing apparatus for performing processing based on the informationinput from the input apparatus or the input terminal and informationread out by the optical information apparatus, and an output apparatusor an output terminal for displaying or outputting the information inputfrom the input apparatus or the input terminal, the information read outby the optical information apparatus and results of the processing bythe processing apparatus.
 33. An optical disk player comprising: theoptical information apparatus according to claim 31; and a decoder frominformation to images for converting an information signal obtained fromthe optical information apparatus to images.
 34. A car navigation systemcomprising the optical disk player according to claim
 6. 35. An opticaldisk recorder comprising: the optical information apparatus according toclaim 31; and an encoder from images to information for converting imageinformation to information to be recorded onto the optical informationmedium by the optical information apparatus.
 36. An optical disk servercomprising: the optical information apparatus according to claim 31; andan input/output terminal for exchanging information with an externaldevice.
 37. An objective lens for focusing a laser beam emitted from asemiconductor laser light source on an optical information medium,wherein a diffractive lens for correcting chromatic aberration occurringin the objective lens is formed on a surface of the objective lens, thediffractive lens is constituted by a Blazed diffraction element, and aheight of the Blazed diffraction element in a portion corresponding to avicinity of a center of an aperture surface of the objective lens is setto a height that is different from a height in which a diffractionefficiency is largest so as to correct a reduction of the intensity ofthe light incident on the aperture surface of the objective lens with adistance from a center of the aperture surface.
 38. The objective lensaccording to claim 37, wherein a numerical aperture of the objectivelens is 0.85.
 39. The objective lens according to claim 37, wherein awavelength of the semiconductor laser light source is about 405 nm. 40.The objective lens according to claim 37, wherein an incident angle of alaser beam in the vicinity of an optical axis is different from that inan outermost portion by about 40 degrees or more.